Continuous developing mechanism



April 2, 1946.- P. B. STREICH CONTINUOUS DEVELOPING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l i g f INVENTOR.

f31ufi3 Sr/P5705 I W Z7VW A2 7 ORA/5Y5 April 2, 1946. P. B. STREICH CONTINUOUS DEVELOPING MECHANI SM 1 Filed Jfily 29, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. B404 5. 6795/0 BY W by v W ATZ'OEYE'YS April 2, 1946? P. B. STREICH 2,397,763

CONTINUOUS DEVELOPING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet s I N V EN TOR. 541/4 52 579676 I A 2, 1946. P. B, STREICH CONTINUOUS DEVELOPING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H a 0 m ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1946 j l v I 2,397,763"

CONTINUOUS DEVELOPING MECHANISM Paul B. Streich, Maywood, Ill., assignor to Charles Bruning Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 29, 1943, Serial No. 496,575 1 Claim. ((31. 95 89) The present invention relates to apparatus by means of which the development of photo-sensitive materials may be accomplished and embodies more specifically an improved developing mechanism by means of which, after the photographic printing of a sensitized emulsion, the emulsion and emulsion carrying base may be developed and handled in an improved fashion.

In the developing of sensitized papers that have been printed photographically, apparatus heretofore available has been difficult and unsatisfactory in operation in several respects, particularly where the paper being developed is generally continuous in nature rather than piecework where the paper that has been printed is fed through the machines piece-by-piece.

In continuous developing operations, the handling of the continuous web of paper that is directed through the developing machine has presented serious difiiculties, and an object of the present invention is to provide a developing machine by means of which a continuous web of sensitized paper, after printing, may be de-* veloped in a fashion that enables the web to be handled with facility and in as convenient a manner as the development of single sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the above character, mechanism by means of which the exposed surface of the printed paper is continuously displayed to the operator in order that he may judge the character of the developing operation from time to time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such character that a single operator can conveniently supervise and control the developing operation carried out by the machine.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro-.

provide a developing apparatus capable of developing single sheets or a continuous paper web, and wherein the continuous web may either be re-rolled for future trimming or discharged continuously for trimming as rapidly as it is developed.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in greater detail in iconnection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the features of the present invention as above outlined;

Figure 2 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view in transverse vertical section taken in the plane 33, as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial view in rear elevation in section showing the manner in which the windup roller is supported and driven;

Figure 5 is a partial view in rear elevation in section showing the manner in which the equalizing roller is mounted in order to equalize the tension transversely of the web; and

Figure 6 is a partial view in transverse verti-' cal section showing the manner in which the continuous web is fed through the machine for cutting as it is developed.

Referring to the above drawings in greater detail, and particularly to Figure 1, the machine is shown as being provided with end frames l0 and II and a receiving table I2 which may be used in case single sheets are developed by the machine. provided at l3, all in the accordance with established practice.

The sensitized paper I 4 and tracing, or original, l5 are fed into the machine from the photographic printing apparatus by means of feed rollers I6 and II, the tracing being removed, if necessary, by a scraper l8. The paper is then fed to curved guide fingers l9 (Figure 3) and over a developing roller 20. Feed and'contactrollers 21 maintain the paper in contact with the developing roller 20 in order to develop the printed emulsion carried by the web. To this end, a pan 22 of developing solution is provided beneath the developing roller 20 in order that the devolping solution may be carried up to the web M by means of the roller 20. The foregoing developing mechanism is in accordance with standard practice.

The feed and contact rollers 2| are mounted upon a frame comprising end frames 23 between which bars 24 and 25 extend. The bar 24 serves 23 being pivoted at 26 to facilitate such operation; Cam elements 21 may be provided to oper- Suitable control mechanism may be ate and control the contact of the rollers 2| with the developing roller 20 in order to facilitate adjustment during operation of the machine.

From the rollers 2| the web [4 is directed over a guide roller 28, the axis of which is fixed, and then over a floating guide or tension roller 29. v The floating guide roller 29 is rotatablymounted on ashaft 3il- (Figure which is received within the vertical slots 3| in the end walls of the machine. The projecting ends of the shaft 30 are fixedly mounted in the hubs 32 and 33,

hub 32 being provided witharr arm 34 which;

projects forwardly of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1, while hub 33 is provided with an arm 35 that projects rearwardly of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the manner in which the arms'34 and35 are related to the shaft 30 and roller 29. Link36' connects the end of arm 34 to a bracket 3'! carried by the stationaryend wall of the machine, while a link 38 connects the end of-arm 35 to a bracket 39 mounted on the opposite end wall of the machine. It will thus be seen. that the roller 29 is free to rotate-about its longitu-. dinal axis and to rock in a vertical plane about its own center of gravity, a point onthe longitudinal axis of the roller 29 about. midway .ofits length. As a result, when a greater tension exists in one side of the web, passing over the roller 29 than in the other side, the roller 29 is deflected downwardly on the sideof the greater tension and deflected upwardly at the. side of lesser tension, thus, relieving the excesstensionand equalizing the transverse tension along the entire width of the web.. This equalizing or tension roller thus prevents sidewise travel, ofthe. web which would otherwise take-placewhen unequal tension exists in the continuous web passing through the-machine. 1

As the web continues to travel through the machine, it is directed to a take-up or feedtube M. In order to facilitate-operation. of the machine, at the beginning of the-developingof. a. continuous web and where ,the web is to be re?- wound after developing,v the tube ,40 i designed and operated insuch fashion thatiitmaybe re moved by the operator in'orderth'at the operatormay roll the web-upon. the tube 4.9.... In ordertoi facilitate this operation, the inner side. of each.

end frame isv provided with. a track formed-with In such position, the web is rolled, upon thetube 20 and, after the winding operation has been started, the tube 16 is rolled up the track. and permitted to rest upon the inclined track ;.42. As the developing operation continues, thetube to rolls down the track andfallsupon the supportingand driverol-lers 45 and. 46, respectively,

' Drive roller 5.5 e rec i-vespegwer' from power sha-i-t il- (Figu-re 2) and: drive sprocket-t3. through. a chainclrive 29-. The chain e9 passes over guide,

sprockets 56' and drive sprocket 5!; (Figure 2 and sion 54. A friction disc 55 is splined on the shaft 52 in order that it may be fixed against rotation with respect thereto but may travel longitudinally thereof. A spring 55, washer 51 and nut 58 serve to force the friction disc 55 to the right as viewed in Figure 4.

The drive sprocket 5i is mounted upon a sleeve 59 which is provided with a friction disc 60, suitablefriction material 5! being mounted between the discs 55' and 6d. Adjustment of the nut 58 .thus serves to vary the tension on the spring 56 "effectively controlled so that the proper tension is. maintained inv the exposed and developed paper.

The chain 49 also serves to drive the feed and contact rolls 2i. through a sprocket S2 and gear train 63, as illustrated in Figure 2.

If it is desired to trim the sheets from the continuous web as the web come from the developing machine, the tube to serves as a feed tube rather than a re-winding tube, and the web It is passed over the tube ii? and beneath apressure roller 65 (Figures 1, ,2, and 3). The pressure. roller is preferably formed with flexible collars 65 and is received in inclined slots 55 formed in. the. end walls of the machine. The upper endsof the slots are formed with notches- 6? in order that-the contact roller Btmay be maintained in. the position illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and .3 when the continuous web is to be wound upon the :tubeifi. When the. Web is to be fed continuously to be cut into sheets, the roller 64 islowered into the 4). Drive roller 15, is secured-toe drive shaft tit which-is iournaleda at; 532 in; the endwall of the machine and: is. previded-withathreadedaextene tween the developin pan and the guide'fingers i9, and then removing. them after they have passed over the developer-roll and beneath the feedand contactrolls. Where the operation is a. continuous one, the sensitized, exposed, and-de-- veloped surface of the paper isalways immediatelybefore the operators eyes as he stands, in front of. the machine, and he is thus afiordedampleopportunity to examine the operation and make; necessary adjustments in. the machinefrom-time totime;

From theforegoing, it will be seen that. a developing apparatus hasbeenprovided by means of which continuous webs or single sheets may be conveniently developed andhandled either for re-w-inding or subsequent cutti-ng, or for continuous cutting.- 'Moreover, the structureis such-as to aifordample opportunity for inspection and control of the developing operation at all times. A further advantage of the apparatus is'that sidewise creepage of" the paper in'the machine, due to unequal transverse tension in the web, is efiec= tively prevented by the equalizing ortension rolien.

The structure will-be seen to be convenient in operation and to'p'ermit completely satisfactory operation. andoontrhl. by a singleoperator during.

all phases of the. developing operation.-

While the. invention has been described-to she-e cifla reference. to .the structure shown. inethe. ac-.

companying drawings, it is not to be limited save delivering the sheet toward the front ends of said frame members, means at the rear ends of said frame members for rotating said roller to wind said sheet thereon, and substantially parallel tracks fixed to said frame members extending from the front of said frame members downwardly toward said roller rotating means, said tracks being inclined suificiently to cause said roller to roll downwardly therealong by gravity, to said roller rotating means and wind said sheet thereon.

PAUL B. STREICH. 

